Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
WARTY GIRSE, n. comb. Sun-spurge, Euphorbia helioscopia (Ork. 1973). Only in Ork. Cf. Eng. dial. wart-grass, id.Ork. 1914 M. Spence Flora Orcad. 103:
The white milky-like fluid in the hollow stem was applied to warts to remove them, hence the local name, “warty-girse”.
